Kan. Gov. Faces Ethics Probe Over E-Mail

zendari

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May 27, 2005
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TOPEKA, Kan. - A state ethics commission is investigating allegations that Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' re-election campaign illegally solicited contributions from lobbyists.

A spokeswoman for the Democratic governor confirmed Friday that the Governmental Ethics Commission staff had discussed an e-mail with Sebelius' campaign committee. The commission is expected to take up the matter when it meets next Thursday, spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran said.

Under Kansas law, it is illegal for a legislator or state official to solicit contributions from lobbyists while the Legislature is in session.

The email was "an update on schools" that was sent while legislators were still debating funding issues, Corcoran said.

"Despite their best efforts, this list may have inadvertently included the e-mail addresses of ineligible individuals," she told The Associated Press Friday.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reported Friday that the email included a link to the governor's campaign Web site, where contributions could be made. The newspaper, which first reported the ethics investigation in the campaign, said three lobbyists gave it a copy of the email.

The ethics commission has a long-standing policy of not discussing inquiries, and executive director Carol Williams would not confirm an investigation into Sebelius' campaign.

The allegations come as national Democrats are making ethics a major campaign issue in the wake of the Jack Abramoff influence-peddling scandal in Washington.

Ohio Gov. Bob Taft, a Republican, is now considered vulnerable in his re-election bid because of an ethics scandal involving his failure to report free golf outings and other gifts. Taft pleaded no contest to four misdemeanor ethics reporting violations last year and was fined $4,000.

Sebelius herself served on Kansas' state ethics commission during the 1970s.

"Gov. Sebelius believes in strong campaign finance laws and greatly respects the job the ethics commission does," Corcoran said. "The Sebelius committee makes every effort to comply with campaign finance rules. If this is found not to comply with those rules, we would apologize for the error and be certain it is corrected in the future."


Really unfortunate for the people of Kansas. Perhaps they will oust her next election.

There's also an inaccuracy in the article; Bob Taft isn't running for re-election nor can he due to term limits.
 

dahunan

Lifer
Jan 10, 2002
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Sad that you are too blind or partisan to ever post an article about some of the scum in your party
 

zendari

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May 27, 2005
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Originally posted by: dahunan
Sad that you are too blind or partisan to ever post an article about some of the scum in your party

Sad that you either can't read the article or can't post an on topic response.
 

Meuge

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Nov 27, 2005
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OMFZorZ, they included a link to the campaign website on an issues-update email! The horror!
 

zendari

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May 27, 2005
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Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Originally posted by: zendari

Really unfortunate for the people of Kansas. Perhaps they will oust her next election.

Why?

Looks to like she has learned well from the Republicans Method of Operation.

Good for her :thumbsup:

Democrats can deal it out with the best of them.
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
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Originally posted by: dahunan
Sad that you are too blind or partisan to ever post an article about some of the scum in your party

Sounds like sour grapes. But if you feel that uptight about it, maybe he can send you the links and you can post these stories of democrats being corrupt and you can post them?

You arent that blind or partisan are you?
 

techs

Lifer
Sep 26, 2000
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While it appears a law may have been broken by including a few people on an email list , this looks like one of those inadvertent oversights that happen when you are dealing with complex election laws.
Not in the same league as a continuing effort to blatantly solicit and use illegal corporate campaign donations like, say, Tom Delay did.
 

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
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Originally posted by: dahunan
Sad that you are too blind or partisan to ever post an article about some of the scum in your party
comment on the article or stfu.

there are scum floating around in every party. that's a fact.

 

Harvey

Administrator<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: zendari
Really unfortunate for the people of Kansas. Perhaps they will oust her next election.
Hmm... The first paragraph in the article says:
A state ethics commission is investigating allegations that Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' re-election campaign illegally solicited contributions from lobbyists.
Aren't you the mindless little putz who was screaming that the charges against Tom DeLay, Scooter Libby and Karl Rove were unproven allegations and ranting about how innocent they were until proven guilty? :shocked:

The allegations may be true, and if so, I hope he gets whatever the law says is appropriate.

Now... tell us again about how your hero, Tom DeLay will return as House majority leader... once he gets out of prison, and assuming the current crooks retain their majority. :p

Then keep reminding us how innocent Libby, Rove, Cheney and the head Bushwhacko, himself had nothing to do with leaking Valerie Plame's identity or lying about having done it.

Don't worry about losing your credibility. You never had any to lose. :laugh:
 

zendari

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May 27, 2005
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Originally posted by: Harvey
Originally posted by: zendari
Really unfortunate for the people of Kansas. Perhaps they will oust her next election.
Hmm... The first paragraph in the article says:
A state ethics commission is investigating allegations that Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' re-election campaign illegally solicited contributions from lobbyists.
Aren't you the mindless little putz who was screaming that the charges against Tom DeLay, Scooter Libby and Karl Rove were unproven allegations and ranting about how innocent they were until proven guilty? :shocked:

The allegations may be true, and if so, I hope he gets whatever the law says is appropriate.
I didn't use the word guilty at all.
 

Harvey

Administrator<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: zendari
I didn't use the word guilty at all.
No, you just said:
Really unfortunate for the people of Kansas. Perhaps they will oust her next election.
No implication of guilt there... :roll:

zendari -- Obviously you spend a lot of time reading "WWWW" -- W's Weasel Words for Wankers. :laugh:
 

dahunan

Lifer
Jan 10, 2002
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Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: dahunan
Sad that you are too blind or partisan to ever post an article about some of the scum in your party
comment on the article or stfu.

there are scum floating around in every party. that's a fact.

you stfu you whiny little sissy..

E-tough guy eh? :laugh:
 

RightIsWrong

Diamond Member
Apr 29, 2005
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So Zen, did you actually read the article at all? Do you know what the actual accusation is? I'm sure that you didn't and don't. You just saw Dem and alleged violation in the same paragraph, soiled your keyboard and then posted after wiping it up.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reported Friday that the email included a link to the governor's campaign Web site, where contributions could be made.

How dare they put a link to her website in an e-mail to supporters in an election year. The bastards!! Hang 'em high!! They should know that information like your campaign website address is something that you should never put in an e-mail. Can you seriously say that you have ever gotten an e-mail from any political candidate or party and state without lying that there wasn't a link to their website where you could donate money? You can answer too GenX. Everyone knows what the answer is.

She deserves the $500 fine that something of this nature warrants and you need to get another bottle of windex and more Kleenex for wiping up.
 

jackschmittusa

Diamond Member
Apr 16, 2003
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This seems like the most minor of infractions imaginable. The lobbyists may simply have been on a list of contributers that was not reviewed for whatever reason. Besides, it is something of a stretch in my opinion to say that a meer link to a campaign website (which may or may not be clicked), is, in fact an effort to solicit a contribution by itself. It may be argued in good faith that such a site is a voter awareness effort that also happens to accept contributions. It doesen't even sound like a willfull infraction as this would be the weakest method imaginable to get funds from a lobbyist.

Some people just need to start looking at actions and events on their merits and not through partisan-colored glasses.
 

zendari

Banned
May 27, 2005
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Originally posted by: RightIsWrong
How dare they put a link to her website in an e-mail to supporters in an election year. The bastards!! Hang 'em high!! They should know that information like your campaign website address is something that you should never put in an e-mail. Can you seriously say that you have ever gotten an e-mail from any political candidate or party and state without lying that there wasn't a link to their website where you could donate money? You can answer too GenX. Everyone knows what the answer is.

She deserves the $500 fine that something of this nature warrants and you need to get another bottle of windex and more Kleenex for wiping up.

I actually have no idea; I rarely check out those types of emails.